Don't read the Walsh book, Heart of a lion is one of the worst cricket bios I have read:sleep:

Thanks for warning, archie. Sadly it seems to be the only one on Walsh. To stay at fastbowling which one about Hadlee is worth buying?

26-05-2013, 11:39 AM

fredfertang

Quote:

Originally Posted by jan

Thanks for warning, archie. Sadly it seems to be the only one on Walsh. To stay at fastbowling which one about Hadlee is worth buying?

You've got a choice of Hadlee from 1981, At the Double from 1987, Rhythm and Swing from 1989 and Changing Pace from 2003 - the third one is the bulkiest, but tbh although all four are sat on my shelves I've not read any of them, but if I was going to I'd start with the last one

26-05-2013, 12:15 PM

Snippie27

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredfertang

Ranji's book is dire, and copies turn up on ebay in the UK and don't sell with a 99p start price - avoid at all costs is my advice

Greig's book is ok, but if you can get a signed copy for that go for it as that's a good price - if your priority is to read about the great man you'd be better off with David Tossell's bio

The Pollock book is similar - not a great read and published before they whitewashed Australia - but I'd buy it signed by both at that price for sure.

Graeme Smith's is probably a decent buy at $10, but only 'cos he's signed it :)

You should also bear in find that for collectors condition is everything so modern books really need to be in good nick with undamaged dust jackets - the Pollock one's jacket wasn't laminated so you can get away with that a bit more, but even signed it wouldn't be worth much with a scruffy jacket, and next to nothing without one at all

Thank you very much for the input! First feeling was to go with the Smith and Greig books. Think I'll go with those this month, and if the Pollocks' book is still available, will buy that one next.

Thanks also for the warning on the Ranji one, will definitely be skipping that one!

26-05-2013, 01:30 PM

smalishah84

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snippie27

Thank you, really appreciate it! I'll try to write the full review this week. Just making some notes and marking important bits right now.

I have another question on some books, but this time before I buy. I still have some cash available, but not that much, and am looking this time around to buy books that are both worth the read, and could be seen as an investment as well.

So far I have found the following that's piqued my interest, the Smith and Greig one I can buy together if I don't buy the others. The other two will probably have to be single buys.

Then there is Bouncers and Boundaries. Graeme and Peter Pollock. Signed by both Pollocks. HC. 1st edition.

Finally, I'm considering - The jubilee book of Cricket. 4th edition. 1897. Not signed :(

These last two are being sold for around $20 each.

What would you guys suggest as the best prospect. First priority for me is that it should be an interesting read, but investment potential is also a consideration.

If you want to read a really good cricket book (and yes I am biased) written by a cricketer then I would recommend getting All Round View by Imran Khan. Fred or Archie have read many more books so I'll defer to their judgment but I thought it was a really good book.

26-05-2013, 01:33 PM

Snippie27

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredfertang

Ranji's book is dire, and copies turn up on ebay in the UK and don't sell with a 99p start price - avoid at all costs is my advice

Greig's book is ok, but if you can get a signed copy for that go for it as that's a good price - if your priority is to read about the great man you'd be better off with David Tossell's bio

The Pollock book is similar - not a great read and published before they whitewashed Australia - but I'd buy it signed by both at that price for sure.

Graeme Smith's is probably a decent buy at $10, but only 'cos he's signed it :)

You should also bear in find that for collectors condition is everything so modern books really need to be in good nick with undamaged dust jackets - the Pollock one's jacket wasn't laminated so you can get away with that a bit more, but even signed it wouldn't be worth much with a scruffy jacket, and next to nothing without one at all

Quote:

Originally Posted by smalishah84

If you want to read a really good cricket book (and yes I am biased) written by a cricketer then I would recommend getting All Round View by Imran Khan. Fred or Archie have read many more books so I'll defer to their judgment but I thought it was a really good book.

Thanks! I actually saw that one being sold for under $5 during my search for new books. Will see if it's still available, and buy it asap :)

26-05-2013, 01:47 PM

smalishah84

that would be great....do let me know what you think of it when you get a chance to read it

27-05-2013, 12:23 AM

Coronis

Does anyone know of any good encyclopedia style books on cricket? With player biographies etc. I remember reading such a book in my younger days and it was just amazing for me.

27-05-2013, 01:22 AM

fredfertang

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coronis

Does anyone know of any good encyclopedia style books on cricket? With player biographies etc. I remember reading such a book in my younger days and it was just amazing for me.

You're probably thinking of Barclay's World of Cricket which was a big coffee table book, the last edition of which appeared in the 1980s - I don't think anyone has or indeed could attempt anything similar now

27-05-2013, 01:26 AM

Coronis

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredfertang

You're probably thinking of Barclay's World of Cricket which was a big coffee table book, the last edition of which appeared in the 1980s - I don't think anyone has or indeed could attempt anything similar now

Name rings a bell, sounds like the book. Thanks Fred!

07-11-2013, 11:29 PM

chasingthedon

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredfertang

You've got a choice of Hadlee from 1981, At the Double from 1987, Rhythm and Swing from 1989 and Changing Pace from 2003 - the third one is the bulkiest, but tbh although all four are sat on my shelves I've not read any of them, but if I was going to I'd start with the last one

So, pertinent (or possibly impertinent) question, roughly how many of your 4000 or so cricket literary works have you read, Martin? Appreciate you're saving some for your long and happy retirement.

08-11-2013, 08:37 AM

davidmutton

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredfertang

You're probably thinking of Barclay's World of Cricket which was a big coffee table book, the last edition of which appeared in the 1980s - I don't think anyone has or indeed could attempt anything similar now

Barclay's World of Cricket is delightfully pointless (it was fairly pointless back in the day, now it is totally pointless). Yet I love it, for all its anachronisms. I even wrote about a while ago (mainly because I had a great title: The Silly Mid Off: E.W. Swanton and the joy of text)

08-11-2013, 10:58 AM

fredfertang

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasingthedon

So, pertinent (or possibly impertinent) question, roughly how many of your 4000 or so cricket literary works have you read, Martin? Appreciate you're saving some for your long and happy retirement.

From cover to cover not that many - 15% ish, which, when there was a Mrs Fertang, made it difficult to justify carrying on buying them, but one of the positives from writing features for CW is that I use them more and I must have consulted at some point or other about 75% of them now, so I can now satisfy myself that they are a necessary expenditure - of course the problem is that the ****ing bitch has all the cash now so I have to be careful, but hey ho such is life, and at least I don't have to put up with her evil scowl anymore, and I have managed to set aside sufficient funds to have a good day at Hove next Sunday where there is to be a gathering of cricket book dealers selling their wares at the County Ground

08-11-2013, 11:22 AM

smalishah84

from Hove it reminds me. Get some Imran memorabilia :ph34r:

08-11-2013, 11:36 PM

archie mac

Quote:

Originally Posted by jan

Thanks for warning, archie. Sadly it seems to be the only one on Walsh. To stay at fastbowling which one about Hadlee is worth buying?

I have only read R&S - and that was a few years ago. Remember it being OK but would go with Fred's advice and read his latest one:)

12-11-2013, 06:30 AM

TheGreatest

Has anyone read Malcolm Marshall's autobiography "Marshall Arts" is it worth....was thinking about buying it from ebay.

Besides Marshall are there any good books from other West Indian quickies like Holdings, Garner, Roberts, Wes Hall, have read " No Holding Back" found it disappointing.

Would appreciate if anyone can recommend good ones related to the West Indian domination of late 70's & 80's.